Addressing Nigerian food insecurity and agricultural Production in a Changing Climate

Addressing Nigerian food insecurity and agricultural Production in a Changing Climate

Although the growth rate averaged 7 percent in the 2006–2008 period, it is still below the 10 percent estimated as necessary for sustainable food security and poverty reduction. The country continues to import a substantial part of its food, due to underexploited agricultural Nigeria’s food security situation is characterised by the threat of hunger and poverty, which confronts the 69 percent of the population that lives on less than Naira 100 (US$ 0.7) per day. Smallholder farmers account for 80 percent of all farm holdings, but crop yields are far below potentials. This is due to inadequate access to and low uptake of high quality seeds and inefficient production systems, leading to regular shortfalls in production.potential. Currently, the population of Nigeria involved in farming is 60–70 percent. Agriculture contributed 42 percent to GDP in 2009.

Despite a growing urban population, in 2000 at least 56 percent of the population resided in rural areas, where the main economic activity is agriculture. This puts the agricultural sector ahead of other sectors in terms of its importance for the food security, livelihood and well-being of most Nigerians. Nigeria’s diverse agro-ecological zones and other characteristics show that it has a high agricultural potential. Nigeria has about 79 million hectares of arable land, of which 32 million hectares is cultivated. Its surface water totals around 267 billion cubic meters, while underground water accounts for about 57.9 billion cubic meters. Although the figures given for the potential irrigable area vary; actual irrigated area is only a small fraction of that potential. As over 90 percent of agricultural production is rain-fed, rainfall patterns and amounts further influenceagricultural production. Changes in climate thus have significant consequences for food security and crop production.

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Nigeria’s 160 million people are projected to increase to 255 million by the year 2030. With desertification in the north, erosion and sea level rise along the Atlantic coast and more floods, will Nigeria be able to feed itself? With almost half of the country’s arable land not cultivated, there is a real possibility to increase food production. But how should Nigeria’s future agriculture look like? Green Deal Nigeria author Prof Chinedum Nwajiuba argues that sustainable agriculture is possible if small farmers are not left behind.

105 words to inspire you to think of a thriving agriculture that has business incentives for small farmers using organic fertilizer, where soil fertility is a high priority and is protected in the interest of future generations, where researchers are connecting to farmers providing them with climate proof seeds… Where agriculture serves people, nature and wealth creation. Read More -Imagine Agriculture

Not many Nigerian farmers are on twitter, but those who have started networking to get up-to date information on climate change adaptation, are turning in bigger harvests. Unfortunately, despite the fact that 60% of the population are into farming,the majority of Nigerian peasant farmers do not have adequate knowledge. Only 5% have access to improved seeds. But the farmers from Owelli court community of Enugu state have been working with the NGO Tubali on networking and their state government has made information available to them Watch Video

Governments at local and state level need to map agricultural potentials of their areas and offer farmers advice based on research from national and international agencies.

Irrigation powered by renewable energy can reduce unemployment, hunger and poverty in the most remote areas. Capital budgets at state level should be spent on irrigation systems based on renewable energies.

Desertification can be contained with Re-Greening techniques. Government, farming and civil society representatives should visit Niger to learn from their experience of re-greening even barren land.

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